As part of our 2018 Recap, let’s take a look at Princess Marie’s events for her main Patronages this year. Just click on the date to read each post about each event.

AIDS-Fondet:

Compared to last year’s 4 events related to the Fondation she attended in 2017, Princess Marie only attended one event this year, the ceremony on World AIDS Day commemorating those who lost their lives to AIDS on December 1st.

On May 7th, Princess Marie visited Katrinebjergskole which is a model school for the Danish NEST program. The NEST program is established in New York and is based on the idea that children are more alike than different.

On June 22nd, Princess Marie visited two projects sponsored by the Danish Association for Autism.

On November 8th, Princess Marie attended the Scottish Autism 50th Anniversary Conference and the following dinner. This was one of my favorite posts to write this year!

On November 13th, Princess Marie attended the Stop Wasting Food dinner. This dinner will become an annual tradition.

Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA):

Princess Marie is an honorary member of DEMA since 2011 and she works as a special project assistant since 2016 but she also attends public events for the organization.

On January 4th, Princess Marie met with Dutch experts to learn about their initiatives to prevent fires and flooding and protect the population.

On June 6th, Princess Marie attended a memorial ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary of an attack that took place in Maglaj, Bosnia-Herzegovina, killing two members of the Danish Emergency Management Agency and their local translator.

Today, Princess Marie attended Folkekirkens Nødhjælp’s Christmas reception in Copenhagen. Folkekirkens Nødhjælp organizes each year a reception to thank every partner of the Fondation. Princess Marie is Patron of DanChurchAid since 2011 and has attended the reception every year except in 2015.

Secretary-General Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen made the welcome speech and gave an insight into the Folkekirkens Nødhjælp’s work. Afterward, the audience had the opportunity to hear Annette Heick’s recalling of her humanitarian trip to Malawi as Ambassador with her husband, the famous television cook Jesper Vollmer, and their two sons Eliot and Storm. There they visited families who have received help via Give a goat project.

The Give A Goat project is a very touching project where Danes can buy gifts such a school bench, a goat or a solar lamp. After they bought it, they receive a voucher or a gift card and the physical gift is sent to a poor family who needs the gift. In the case of the goat, once the goat has babies, the first baby is given to another poor family so the initial gift actually helps more than one family. You learn more about the project here.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, the Papaya choir performed South African songs. The choir was introduced by former Folkekirkens Nødhjælp Secretary-General, Christian Balslev-Olesen, with words about the legacy of Mandela.

She also wore her Elise Gug black jacket. (You can see a photo of Marie’s departing the event with the jacket on here) Marie wore this jacket only once in public, it was in 2012 for Christmas at Mogeltonder.

Today, Princess Marie was in Odense to visit the H.C Andersen Children Hospital. Princess Marie works closely with the hospital since 2013 and she makes a lot of visits each year, the latest one being a private visit in December 2017.

Princess Marie first visited the Asthma School. Nurse Anne Marie Bro Hofbauer explains: “The purpose of Odense Asthma School is to give the children a greater understanding of the disease and the medicine they receive, but also to show them that they can do much more than they think. They can run longer and jump higher than they thought. Most importantly, they live a very ordinary and active life, just like all other children and young people. We try to help them.”

Finally, Princess Marie visited Ællingen which is a playground for children from 6 to 12 years old run by young volunteers from Red Cross Hungary. Ællingen is opened two afternoons a week for all children, whether they are patients or relatives of a patient. Ællingen aims to give the children independent and fun experiences independent of illness, diagnosis and parents.

Princess Marie wore a new IRO jacket today! The ‘Awa’ jacket is a belted wool-blend jacket with leather trims on the inside. It is not the first time Marie has worn this French brand. She wore another IRO jacket in 2015.

She wore a black short sleeve top with black trousers and UFO black ankle boots that she first wore last year. Her snakeskin bag is also new.

In other news, Princess Marie as Patron of DanChurchAid is taking part in their campaign for the removing of landmines and unexploded munitions. She filmed a video message to support their work :

Here is the translation of her message: “DanChurchAid is focusing on the important work of clearing mines. Every year, more than 2000 people die from landmines and unexploded ammunition. But mines do not kill people only. Landmines maintain millions of men in poverty and prevent reconstruction and development. Landmines make it impossible to cultivate the earth and thus provide food to thousands of families.Landmines prevent children from giving safe to and from school. They prevent children from playing freely and just being children.That is why I support the efforts of the DanChurchAid in removing land mines with the victims and the teaching of how to avoid landmines.”

She wore a new turtleneck top from By Malene Birger. It features a side slit so I really hope Marie will wear it again so that we can see it fully!

Today, Princess Marie was in Hillerod to attend DanChurchAid’s Christmas Concert at Fredensborg Castle.
DanChurchAid organizes each year a reception to thank every partners of the Fondation. Princess Marie is Patron of DanChurchAid since 2011 and has attended the reception ever since.

This year , DanChurchAid choose to hold a concert instead of the reception in honor of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation as well as the 400th anniversary of the consecration of the Chapel of Fredensborg Castle.